Vacuum casting device.



' R. G. BROPHY.

- VACUUM CASTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED Nov.1o, 1909.

LSq. V' Patented July 2, 1912.

Tall whom 'it may concern.:

l to construct the,

v ing from the Crucible necessarily taken by the` air from such cup abscess;

vices', iof which the following is a full, clear,

`ingmachines, and is particularly adapted f ling valve, and in this-path I place a readily aan saires navrant AOFFICE RRUBEN, C. RROPHY, or RLGIN, IL LINOIs,AssIGNOR To THE RANSOM &' RANDOLPH A. i COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.A

n VACUUM CASTING DEVICE;

. Specification of Letters Patent. Application ledjNovemherv 10, 1909. Serial No. 527,133.

of the controllingvalves. 1s so constructed that it automaticallyplaces the cover upon the Crucible when `the valve 1s turned-to exert suction upon the investment Compound contained within the crucible.- In this manner I provide lthat the Be it known that I, REUBEN C. BRON-IY, a citizen of4 the United States,` residing at Elgin, in the county of Kaneand State of Illinois, have invented` a certain new and useful Improvement in Vacuum Casting De` investment compound is effective in exhausting the air from the mold formed within the compound and leakage of air from the external atmosphere around the mold into the suction connection is prevented. The cover mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is adapt-ed to be employed either with. an apparatus consist` ing of Va vsingle Crucible support or a double Crucible support, the cover being lso ar- -ranged Cthat it may cooperate witlreither support and be automaticallyreleased and moved to its operative position by the opening of the valve 'associated wit-h the particular Crucible support in use.

The several drawings illustrating my invent-ion are as follows:v

Figurel is a side view ofV my Casting de#A vice in its completely,assembled condition, portions of the device being sectioned to more Clearly show the construction thereof. Fig. 2 is a view of the parts-shown in- Fig. l taken along the lineQ, 2. Fig.' 3' is a de! tail view of the parts shown in Fig. l'of a modified form of means that may be employed for securing the Crucible cover to the supporting lever.,

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this'specitication. v

y invention relates to mechanism adapted for use in connection with vacuum cast- 'or use with machines of this class employed in the making of castings for dental Work.

It is an object of my invention to improve th'e construction of Crucible supports commonly employed in connection with vacuum casting machines of the class indicated in such' a manner that the suction exerted upon the Crucible is distributed upon different portions of the investment Compound instead of being concentrated upon practically one portion, as has 4heretofore been the case.

It is the further object of my invention y suction connection extendsupport in suoli a manner that the metal which is from time to time drawny through the investment Compound into the suction connection is trapped beforereaching the'valve in such connec* tion.l ThisI 'accomplish by leading the air exhausted from the mold through a circuitous path before it reaches the controlremovable Cup into which the airzand liquid metal are obliged to pass. In this manner the larger portion ot' t-he metal which is drawn from the mold through the investment compound into the suction'connection isvca'ught and Congealed in the removable cup, and any portion of the metal, not thus of the wall of a tank in which a vacuum may e maintained by any Isuitable' means, not shown. The tank l llas threaded into its wall a. T 2 in the horizontal branchesof which the valves 3 and 4 are threaded. The valves 3 and 4; have `ends connections 5 and 6 which engage the Ts 7 and 8 in such a manner that the O positely disposed branches of these Ts eX- tend in a` vertical direction. The connections 5 and 6 are so formed on lthe ends extending into, the Ts 7 and 8 that the openings formedthrough such connections excontrolling valve by the. circuitous path before reaching the controlling valve.

: It is a further object of my invention to 'provide an automatically operated mechanismfor covering the Crucibles used 1n the casting operationby means of the operation Patented July e, irais'.

This mechanism As shown in the drawings, l is a portion secured into their outer I tend upward through the upper walls of the I entire force of the suction exerted upon the l compartments formed wit -the lower ends of the tubes 11 and 12.

` extended in spring 28, is moved downwardly tobring -around such tubes extending from the open-- of'a bowl and has its upper edge` ground to Connections instead of throughtheir ends, construction from the Crucible support-13 in thus opening into the upper portions of the hin the Ts .7 and 8. Thelowerends of theTsI 7 "and 8 are closed by cups 9 and lfscrewed intol the lower branches thereof and into these cups tubes 11 and' 12,connected at their upper ends to the Crucible supports 13 and 14 ex-av tend. VThese cruci le supports are screwed into the upper branches of vthe Ts 7 and A8, and the tubes 11 and12 are of afconsiderably smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter'ofthe Ts 7 and 8, as a result of lwhich a considerable op'en space 1s left cible if desired, in which case4 theforinof Crucible shown at16 could not be used on account of theside openings 17, but arnodied form of crucible having only an- Vopensarily be employed. In using'the. Crucible support 14 thelever 23 is moved around to the right, whichcauses the spring 28- to lie up'on the right-hand Vside of the'pivot 22, thus tending to move the lever-'around to the right, which motion is prevented by the lower endjof such lever engaging theopposite side ofthe latch 24. For this condition the cover 26 is released and moved half way around upon the lever 23 so thatit is in po- -sition to properly engage the Crucible-resting upon the support 14.' The chain 31 is then unhooked from Chain 33 carried by the diskl 34 secured toV the handle 4a of the valve the ring 24, and this chain 33 serves'fwheii the valve 4 is opened to releasethe lever' 2-3- in a manner similar to the release of Lthe lever '23 by means of the openingof the f valve 3.

1n order to provide that the Crucible cover 26 may accurately engage the upper surface of the cru'cible, the cover may be pivoted at 35 to a collar 36 adapted to be secured to the upperend of the lever 23 by means 'o the screw .27, as indicated in Fig. 3. In this modification the lever 23 is shown as having notches 232L upon opposite sides thereof, which notches are adapted to `receive the end of the screw 27 Iwithout clamping en-v gagement between the screw and such lever, thus permitting a slight amount of rotaryv motion of the collar 36 upon t-lie lever with-, out, however, permitting displacement of the collar and Crucible cover from their lproper position. By means of this construction the Crucible assumes the properposition when it engages the top of the Crucible to'perfectly seal the i same. l

rIhe operation of the scribed is as follows: made in thecrucible in any desired manner Iand provided with a sprue connection extending to the upper. surface of the investment compound in which a slight cavity is ings in the upper walls ofthe connections and 6 into the cups 9 and10 and thus to.

The Crucible support 13 is formed in the shape a true surface to engage the lower ground surface of the ring 15 carried bythe Crucible 16. lThe Crucible 16' has 4formed in its side wall a plurality of openings 17 which, together with the opening 18 formed in the bottom of the Crucible, serve to permit communication between the vacuum that may be produced within the bowl 13 andthe investment compound 19 contained within the Crucible 16. The T 2 has secured a clamp 20 an arm or bracket 21 to which is -pivotallysecured at 22 a lever 23, the lower end of which is adapted to be engaged by a double latchv 24 pivoted at 25 to the arm 21. The upper end of the lever .23 is such a manner that it'may support a crucible cover 26 which is secured to the lever by means of a 'thumb `screw 27 The cruciblecover- 26 is preferably lined with asbestos 27 or other-similar material of a yielding nature which isadapted to withstand heat, which facilitates making a tight joint between the Crucible cover 26 and the top of the Crucible 16 when the cover is brought into engagement with such-Crucible. A spring 28 extends from a pin 29 carrie by the lever 23 to apin 30 carried by the arm 21, and for the position indicated in Fig. 1 lies to the left of the pivot 22, thus tending to move the lever 23 around to the left tobring the cover 26 into engagement with the crucible 16. The latch 24 has adownwardly extending thereto by means of mechanism above de'- The mold desired is terminating in a ring 24, and a chain 31 is provided which formed to receive the metal to be vrun into extends from a disk 32 secured to thevalve the mold. The metal to be used to fill the handle 3a in such a manner that when the mold is placed upon the Compound in the cavity formed therein and heated sufficiently hot to liquefy the saine". At this' time the Crucible is placed upon the Crucible support, and with the liquid in thoroughly fluid Cou'- dit-ion having a proper vacuum in the tank the Cover 26 into engagement with the cru- 1, the valve 3 is opened which immediately cible 16. opens communication between the vacuum in The crucible support 14 is of different l the tank 1 and the inside of the bowl 13, and

valve is opened the chain is moved to the left, thereby rotating the latch 24 around to the right-upon its pivot -and releasing the lever 23 which, .under the action of the cover automatically that its upper'surface is ground to be d irectly engaged by the lower end of the cru K ing or openings in the' bottom would necesat thesame'time releases rthe Crucible Cover 26 sothat it falls and closes the top of the investment compound 19 through the openingscl and 18 withdraws the air from the 'mold and immediately the liquid met-al i Hows through thesprue into said mold.`

The purpose of Covering the Crucible during thisI operation is to prevent air from passing from the i external ,atmosphere directly through the investment compound to the inside of the bowl 13, and thus decreasing the' efficiency of operation of the vacuum upon. the mold. By Closing the'top of the Cruciblel al1- the'vacuum'produced is exerted directly upc-n the air contained wit-hin the mold, and

suchvair is therefore more quickly and more,- `thoroughly removed than if air from the external atmospherewere permitted to leak through the investment Compound around the mold.' l

It has been found in practice that a Certain portion of the metal drawn into the 'mold is carried by the suction completely through the investment compound and in to the air passages in the connections betweenthe criicible support and the vacuum tank. Inl thc past considerable trouble has been experienced as a result of this metal working through the connect-ions referred ,to as far as the valve 3 and even in some instances getting into the T vThis is particularlyv serious in Connection with the use Ofapparatus of this class vfor dental work in the making of gold or other met-al inlays, bridges-or plates, since it is desirable in using precious metals to recover all of the waste metal, owing` to its value. By my Ipresent invention I am able to entirely pre- Vvent'the loss of metal in this manner. since it passes directly down from the Crucible 16 out of the bowl 13 in liquid Condition,.and passing through the tube-1l is projected into the Cup 9 where it is in large part Con-` gealed and retained. It', however, under some circumstances it is still fluid enough to pass witlrthe air upaiound the outside of. the tube ll it is prevented from entering directly intoA the connection 5, since the air openinginto such Connection is formed in.

the upper wall of that portion of the connection extending into the compartment formed within the T 7. In this manner the metal is retained within such compartment and is not permitted to reach the passages through the connection 5 and the valve 3.

My automatic Crucible covering mecha` i'iism is so constructed that it may readily be attached to and made a. part of casting mechanisms of the general construction of those indicated above that may be in use.

lsince in oider to secure the covering mechanism to such devices it is only necessary to open the clamp 2O to surround the T 2., and by closing the clamp by means of a suitable Crucible 16. The vacuum exerted upon the screw, as indicated, the Covering mechanism is supported with the operating lever, the actuating spring and releasing latch iii proper operatingl,.relat-ion. Furthermore, it is only necessary (to remove the usual screw from the valvehandle 3a or 4:3 and replace it byI a special screw having an enlarged disk head 32 or 34, as the case may be, to which the chain 3l or 33 is secured.y Y

Whilel have shown my invention in the arrangements herein described, l do not,

however, limit myself to these coi'i'structions,n

but desire to claim any equivalent-s that ma suggest themselves to those skilled inthe art.

What I claim is: Y

1. A Crucible support for vacuum casting machines consisting-in the combination of a bowl having a ground upper surface adapted to engage a transverse sealing surface formed near the middle of the Crucible, and a suction connect-ion extending from the bowl.

the combination of a bowl having' a ground upper surface, a crucible adapted to be Conlateral flange adapted to be engaged thereby, such Crucible being provided with holes in its walls within the bowl., and a suction connection extending from the bowl.

- 3. A Crucible support for vacuum casting machines consisting/in the combination of a bowl having a ground upper surface adapt-- ed to engage a sealing surface formed near Athe middle oi? the Crucible, a suction connection extending vfrom the bowl, a valve ,in such'suction connection, and means for automatically covering the Crucible when the `4`valve is opened.

. A vacuum casting device consisting in ed to engage a sealing surface formed near the middle of the Crucible, a suction coiineet-ion extending from the bowl, a valve in such suction connection, a Crucible cover pivotally supported from such Connection, a spring for moving such cover to'eiiga-ge the lupper end of the Crucible, and tripping means operated by the valve to release the cover when such valve is opened.

G. A' vacuum Casting device consisting in the Combination of a bowl having aground upper surface, a Crucible adapted to be cou- 2. A vacuum casting device Consisting in v tained in part in such bowl and having a ica i tained in part in suchbowl and to 'be-ven? gaged thereby crucible being suction connection,

V io

such chamber.

support into a Vtion connection extending into "such chamber the combination of near its 'middle portion2 such provided with holes in its wallswithin the bowl, asuction connection extending lfrom the bowl, a valve-in such Crucible cover .pivo tally vsupported trom such connection, 'a spring Afor moving such cover to engage the upper end of y the crucible, and tripping ineansoperated by the valve to release the cover when such valve is opened:

7. A vacuum casting deviceA consistingin' the combinat-ion of a crucible support,- a"-sucA tion tube extending downward from such support into4 a suction chamber, tion connection 'extending' from the side of 8. A vvacuum casting thecombinat-ion of a'vcrucible support, asuetion tube 'extending downward -r'om such support into a suction chamber, and a sucsuch chamber therewith and communicating through an opening in the upper-'wallfof such connec- 9. A vacuum casting -deviceconsisting in thev combii'iation of a crucible support, a suction tube' extending' downward fijom [such support ,into suction chamber, a suction connection extending from the side of such chamber, and a Vremovable cup located in below such tube. l 10. A vacuum casting device consisting iii a crucible support, a `suc.

tion tube extending 'downward rom such connectionexftending 'into such chamber and ing in communicating the upper wallfof such connection, and a removable cuplocated -in such cham- "ber below such tube.

` tiontube extending. downward and a removable cup ber below and around connection 11.. A vacuum casting device consisting inthe combination 'ot a,crucible support, a

suction tube extending -downward from .suc

support into a suction chamber, a'suction tube. y

13.. A crucible vsupport for vacuum casting machines consisting in the combination of a bowl having aground upper surface adapted-to engage av sealing surface formed near Y-th'e middle of the' crucible,

a suction tube :extending n downwf,

device consisting in suction chamber,

. upper surface,

gaged'thereby near its middle f tending.- into cating therewith through a n openi suction chamberpa suction therewith through an open-- eatingtherewith the lower end of such r port,

sanbowi am ab;suctionY connection asuction chamber,

extending .tromgjthel sidef'otl vsuch chambr.

sting-device consisting in the habitation ora bowl having a groan 'upper.sur.face,"a crucible adapted to be Acontained in "partinsuch bowl and to-be engaged-thereby near its middle portion, such provided with holes in its x D D crucible being walls within the bowl, a suction tube extending-"downward from such bowl into a -suc` and-a suction connection eX- y v tion chamber,

tending from the side of such chamber.

" '15.- A'crucible'support for vacuum casting machinesconsisting in ,the combination of a bowlhavfing a ground upper 4surface adapted to enga-ge a sealing surface middle of the crucible, a suction tube 'eX- tending. downward from such bowl into a yand a suction connection extending into such chamber and communi- .cating therewith'throughanv opening in the upper',wall ot such connection.`

16. A-vvacuum castin device consisting in the combination o a' bowl having a; ground a crucible adapted to be .con-

tained in part in' suchbowl and .to be encrucible being provide wallswithin the bowl, a ing downward :trom suchbowl into a sucd with -holes in its 'tion chamber,=and a suction connection eX- chamber and 'communisuch g in the upperwall ot such connection.

17.A crucible support'for vacuum casting machines-consisting in th bowl having a ground upper' surface adapt= ed to engage a sealing surface formed near .-themiddle ofk the crucible, a suction tube eX- tending downward from such bowl into a suction chamber, i tending into siich fcl i`amber and communithrough an opening in the upper wall ot' such connection, an movable cu'p located in such hamber below such tube. i i

18.-' A vacuum castin-g device consisting 'in the combination of a bowl having a groun portion, suchl suction tube extend-V ico e combinationof a Y a; suction connection ex-v upper surface, a crucible adapted to be coni tainedy in part in s uch bowl and to be engaged thereby near its middle portion, such crucible .being provided withf holes. in its walls within the bowl, a suction tube extending downward from such bowl intoa suction chamber, a withA throughA an opening in the upper wall of such connection, and a removable cup located in such chamber below such tube. 19.A A vacuum casting the combination of tion connection extending from such `supa valve vin such connection, andmeans device consisting ina crucible support, av siic- -into such chamber'andcommunicatingtliere- 80 formed near the i port, a valve in such connection, and means the combination of ,releasing the lever when the valve is opened.

, tionA for .eac

,A -of a bowl having an upper surface adapted `Cured to such Connectioma lever pivoted to vfrom such y such' Connection ,for "either Crucible when of the Corresponding valve.

' in thecombination of two a Common suction connection the action of the Crucible, the lower *ingr machines,

tion connection extending from such support, and means for automatically .covering the Crucible when the suction is applied.

2S. i' vacuum Casting in the combination of two Crucible supports, a commonO suction Connection extending from such supports, `and means for automatically Covering either Crucible when the suction is applied to such Crucible.

29. In a vacuum casting device, a Crucible, a Crucible support having a bowl with a surface adapted to engage said Crucible, the lower part of the wall land the bottom of said Crucible being' separated from the inside of said bowl, and a suction connection for exhausting air from the space between said bowl and said Crucible. n

30. A Crucible support for a vacuumcasting machine comprising the combinationof a bowl having al sealing surface adapted' to engage a 'Crucible placed 'within said bowl, the lower portion of the vwall and the b`ot- `tompo`| said Crucible being separated from the inside of said bowl by a suction space, and a suction Connectionleading from said s uction space.

for automatically covering the Crucible when the valve is opened. f

20. A vacuum Casting device consisting in the Combinationv of a Crucible support, a suction Connection extending from such supsecured to such connection for automatically covering' the Crucible when the valve is opened. l

2l. A vacuum casting device consisting in a Crucible support, a suction connection extending from such sup-- port, a valve in such connection, an arm sesuch arm, a Crucible covercarried by such lever, a spring tending to move the lever and cover to their operative position, and trip-` pingimechanism operatedv by the valve for :22. A vacuum casting device Consisting' in the combination of two Crucible supports, a common suction connection extending from such supports, a valve in such connection for each s uppprt, and means for automatically Covering either Crucible when theICbrresponding valve is cpened. i

l 23. A vacuumcasting device Consisting in the combination'of two Crucible supports, a Common' suction connection extending supportsa valve in such Connec! tion for each support, and means secured to automatically covering released by the opening binalion of a Crucible having 'a lateral projection with a sealing surface, abowl having a surface for engaging the sealing surface on said Crucible, the lower portion of the wall and the bottom of said Crucible being separatecd from the inside of said bowl by a suction space, and a suction connection leading from said suction space.

32. ln a device of the described class, the Combination o' per endonly, a closely fitting cover adapted to close the mouth of said receptacle, a core ol investment material,-means for suspending said Core from-said cover within andat a distance from the walls of said receptacle, an exhaust duct adapted to communicate between said receptacle and a vacuum chamber, and an air cockfor Controlling the escape of air from said re- Ceptacle to saidvacuum chamber.

33. lin a device of the described Class, ,the Combination of a receptacle, a closely fitting Cover. adapted to Closethe mouth of said receptacle, -a core 'of investment material, means for" suspending said Core from said cover within and at a distance from the "walls of said receptacle, an exhaust duct adapted to communicate between said receptacle and a vacuum ch Cool; for Controlling the'escape of air from saidcrcceptacle to said vacuum Chamber..

34k. ln a dental appliance, the combination with a receptacle having a bowl-shaped body and a stem, of a ring insertible within said body, Athe 4upper port-ion of the ring and body being adapted to have an air-tight engagement, the lower portion of the ring device consisting' Crucible supports, extending from sucli supports, a valve in such Connech support",M an arm secured to such Connection, a lever pivoted to such arm, a springadapted to move the lever toward either support, a Crucible cover reversibly Carried by such lever, and tripping mecha-f nisin operable byA either valve forreleasing the lever and permitting it yto move under spring toward the corre- 24. A' vacuum vcasting sponding support.

o. In a Crucible support, the combination corresponding surfaceon the part of the Crucible wall being separated-,from the inside ofthe bowl by an annular space, and a suction connection extending from the inside of said bowl.

26. Aicrucible'support for vacuum Cast- Consisting in the combina-l aving a ground upper sur engage a 'sealing surface formed near the middle of the Crucible, a suction Connection extending from the bowl, and means for automatically covering the'crucible 'when the suction is applied.

27. A vacuum Casting device Consisting in the-Combination of a Crucible support, a sucto engage e tion of a bowl. face adapted to amber, and an airl 3]. ln a vacuum casting device, the Comdevice consisting V a hollow body open at 5. vestment flask nsertble within the hollow I being formed wthradia-lly eXtenlng perforatons.'

55. A-'dental casting apparatus including both ends, and an nbody havng openings 1n thescle and the bottom, the 'upper end of the flask having air tight engagement with the hollow body.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 6th clay. of November, A.' D., 10

REUBEN GBROPHY.

lltnessles:

' ALBERT .BELL,

ROBERT F. BRACKE. 

